Incontinence

Loss of bladder control may range from occasionally leaking urine, perhaps when you sneeze or cough, to the sudden urge to urinate that’s so strong, you can’t wait to “go.” Any involuntary bladder action is called urinary incontinence.

There are four general types of incontinence:

• Functional incontinence: this results from an unrelated impairment that prevents you from reaching a bathroom, such arthritis or other mobility issues
• Overflow incontinence: frequent dribbling of urine due to the inability to completely drain your bladder
• Stress incontinence: leakage that occurs to pressure on your bladder, such as when coughing, exercising, heavy lifting, or sneezing
• Urge incontinence: a sudden and intense urinary urge followed by the involuntary release of urine, often experienced along with the urge to urinate frequently

You may experience any of these types of incontinence alone or in combination.

Incontinence itself isn’t a disease or disorder. It exists as a symptom of other conditions, and so there can be many underlying issues that cause the problem. Incontinence can be temporary or persistent, and this also depends on the cause.

Temporary incontinence may occur due to foods, drinks, or medications acting as diuretics that both stimulate your bladder or increase urine volume. Alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated drinks are common culprits in beverage form, while chocolate, chili peppers, and other foods high in vitamin C, spices, or sugar may produce diuretic effects. Urinary tract infections are another common cause of temporary incontinence.

When incontinence is chronic, it’s not only a persistent problem, it may take more investigation to determine the reasons behind the issue. Pregnancy, childbirth, hysterectomy, menopause, pelvic prolapse, and aging are only some of the reasons behind persistent incontinence.

Your MOGA professional frequently turns to special tests to help determine the origins behind your incontinence. These are called urodynamic tests, a collection of procedures that evaluate your bladder’s function and operational efficiency. A simple urodynamic evaluation may measure both the amount of urine you can pass as well as the amount remaining in your bladder.

Cystometry, another urodynamic test, fills your bladder with liquid or gas to measure holding ability and voiding efficiency. The type of urodynamic test you need may vary, based on your case.